LOS ANGELES — Many of the young Rockies had never faced Clayton Kershaw. They weren’t in a hurry to see him again after the reigning Cy Young Award winner used them as chew toy for eight innings Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

“It seemed like he was 0-2 on every hitter through the first three innings,” Rockies first baseman Jordan Pacheco said. “He was throwing his fastball for a strike, then using that curveball, then the slider or cutter. I am not even sure what it was.”

“It was too much Clayton Kershaw,” manager Jim Tracy said. “Give credit where it’s due. His curveball was as good as I’ve seen. He was phenomenal.”

Jeff Francis was no match for the young lefty, allowing five runs in four innings. He finished the season with a 5.75 ERA.

“I feel like I am better than I pitched (this season),” said Francis, who will be a free agent and is interested in remaining with the Rockies.

In other news and notes:
-Francis finished with a thud, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in September.
–Pacheco’s 10-game hitting streak was snapped. Pacheco went 16-for-41 during that stretch.
–The Dodgers’ Bobby Abreu hit his first ever pinch-hit home run. It was the second loge level home run of the season.
–Kershaw lowered his ERA to 2.58, tops in the National League. He threw 113 pitches, 80 for strikes.

LOS ANGELES — Troy Tulowitzki will play Saturday in the instructional league in Arizona, not Sunday since there are no games. He will work out Sunday and be evaluated Monday when the Rockies arrive in Phoenix.

There remains a chance he could play in one of the final three games, but if his left leg is still not 100 percent he will likely stay in the instructional league

All-star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (left hamstring) ran Friday, but is not ready to play. There remains a possibility he won’t appear in another game. Same goes for center fielder Dexter Fowler, whose left wrist remains an issue.

In other news and notes:
–Juan Nicasio, Jhoulys Chacin and Jorge De La Rosa will all report to the instructional league. Nicasio will be there Monday, the others when the season is over. Nicasio and Chacin are expected to pitch in winterball, and it’s possible De La Rosa will as well to build up arm strength after their abbreviated seasons.

–Rob Scahill has taken to a relief role for the Rockies. He had pitched once in relief in his career, backing up Drew Pomeranz in a Double-A game. “I am still getting used to it. But it has gone well,” said Scahill.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.